MILLICHEN AREA - GLASGOWThe Millichen area is situated in the north of Glasgow, just east of Bearsden. It is bounded by Boclair Road, to the north, Balmore Road, to the east, the River Kelvin, to the south, and the Glasgow City/East Dunbartonshire Council boundary, to the west.
The land, all privately owned, is primarily agricultural land - improved grassland and arable - with areas to the south of Millichen Road being susceptible to flooding (part of the River Kelvin floodplain). These areas also include fields of rushy pasture. Some of the fields are bounded by hedgerows some of which are subject to severe pruning on an annual basis.
Two small partially canalised streams flow south into the River Kelvin whilst land within the floodplain has been subjected to major drainage works in recent years.
There are a number of cottages, steadings and farm buildings located alongside Millichen Road, which bisects the area. The privacy of the occupants should be respected at all times.
Typical birds include 1000s of geese in winter (mainly pink-footed goose and greylag goose), good numbers of wigeon and teal (when the flood is flooded in winter); passage waders (in autumn); summer migrants such a grasshopper warbler, willow warbler, whitethroat, swallow, sand martin and house martin; and typical farmland birds such as tree sparrow, reed bunting, skylark and yellowhammer. More unusual records include pectoral sandpiper, hen harrier and jack snipe.
Knowing the importance of the site for farmland birds, the Glasgow Group initiated a winter farmland bird feeding project in December 2001 and continued to assist up until March 2011. The initial idea was to raise awareness of the site and its importance for farmland birds as well as trying to safeguard, in the short term, nationally declining species such as yellowhammer, reed bunting and tree sparrow. The area was particularly important as it supported the one remaining tree sparrow population in the city, which had apparently dwindled to 2-3 breeding pairs.
In undertaking the project the Group:
- Recruited a dedicated band of volunteers.
- Prepared Monitoring reports that showed that the tree sparrow and other birds of conservation concern continued to utilise the Millichen area.
- Raised the profile of site.
- Worked with other interested parties who obtained funding to purchase barley, plant trees within hedgerows and erect nest boxes.
All of this work has helped support Glasgow's Local Biodiversity Action Plan and in particular the Reed Bunting and Tree Sparrow species plans.
Results from various surveys indicate that the work appears to have had a positive impact.
For more information see links page and 'Birds of Greater Glasgow'
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